inland empire restaurants

The Habit Burger Grill on Tyler in Riverside

November 20, 2016 by Ole Leave a Comment

The Habit Burger Grill on Tyler in the City of Riverside, California has been open for just about a year, but it has recently become one of my family’s favorite places to eat.

If it weren’t for my oldest son, I might not have tried it. A few months ago, after a long day of water polo, my son wanted a Habit burger. Unfortunately, it was closed by the time we arrived. I promised him another trip.

The next time we visited, I ordered something too… I was hooked.

The Habit offers more than just burgers, as you can see from the menu:

The food is prepared to order, and I have never seen it wait under a heating lamp to be served. As soon as the food is ready, the buzzer goes off.

Since becoming a fan, we have eaten at a bunch of different Habit locations, including Riverside Plaza in the City of Riverside, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Chino and Pleasanton.

We have only had good experiences, but The Habit on Tyler in Riverside is my favorite. One of the reasons is because of the people who work here:

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Along with French fries and sweet potato fries, The Habit also has onion rings. They are awesome.

My wife usually alternates between the Chicken Club or the Santa Barbara Cobb salad.

Our kids all get burgers.

I get burgers too, but mine usually arrive in a bowl without a bun. I really like the burgers here even without a bun. The burgers are charbroiled and seasoned, and the bacon always seems to be fresh.

The first time I tried The Habit was a few years ago in Lake Forest, California. I was not a fan. It must have been an off day, because fast forward to today and The Habit is one of my new favorite places.

The Habit Burger Grill
3510 Tyler St, Ste 100
Riverside, California

Ramiro’s Cocina Mexicana – Riverside

November 29, 2012 by Ole 7 Comments

Welcome to tamale heaven. That is my nickname for Ramiro’s Cocina Mexicana on Magnolia in Riverside.

I tried this place for the first time about two months ago, and have already gone back half a dozen times.

I probably would have gone at least once more, but the owners went on vacation and closed down for a week. This is a true owner operated business.

Lunch always starts off with chips and salsa. I am not a fan of chunky salsa, so I opt for the red tomatillo salsa instead.

If you order a combo, you can also get a small bowl of albondigas soup or a salad before your meal is served. We have always ordered the albondigas, which is very good.

The tacos here are unique due to the way Ramiro cooks the shells. Instead of being deep fried or served soft, they are cooked on the grill with a small amount of oil, which produces sort of a soft yet crunchy taco shell. You can order the tacos with cilantro and onions or with lettuce and cheese. I go the lettuce and cheese route, and always get either carne asada or al pastor tacos.

The pork tamales are awesome, and are currently my favorite tamales anywhere. They also make chicken and chile tamales, but I haven’t made it past the pork tamales yet. The tamales are so good that I almost convinced my wife to order a bunch of tamales and serve them for Thanksgiving this year. I just might try again next year.

Ramiro’s has much more than soup, tacos and tamales, but I haven’t tried anything else yet. I would bet that everything else is good too.

Ramiro’s Cocina Mexicana
9418 Magnolia Ave
Riverside, CA
www.ramiroscocina.com

Want to Work at the New Farrell’s in Riverside?

November 27, 2012 by Ole 3 Comments

I drove past the future home of Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour Restaurant in Riverside today to check on the progress.

There is obviously more work to be done before the scheduled opening in January 2013.

If you would like to work at the new Farrell’s, here is some information from www.farrellsusa.com:

The newest Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour Restaurant will be located in Riverside, California, at 3610 Park Sierra Drive, and opening soon. But before we can open, we need to find our team.
December 3, 4 and 5 from 12noon to 6pm each day we’ll be interviewing to fill Farrell’s Cast Member rolls for servers, hosts, cooks, bussers, food runners, experienced expediters, dishwashers, office personnel, managers and ice cream artisans to work the famous Farrell’s fountain.
To take part in an interview you will need to download, completely fill out and print Farrell’s Interactive Southern California Application Form. Then, don’t forget to bring it with you to the interview.

Visit www.farrellsusa.com/join-our-team.php to view all of the important information.

Steam Haus Gastropub – Dos Lagos, Corona

September 2, 2012 by Ole 3 Comments

Steam Haus Gastropub officially opened for business yesterday in the Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos in Corona.

We stopped by, and are glad we did.

Steam Haus is unique, not only for its food, but also for its theme… Steampunk. Not sure what that is? Google it or just show up to Steam Haus and enjoy. While the servers and a few customers were dressed in their finest Steampunk attire, we and most everyone else wore typical end of summer attire – shorts and flip flops.

On to the food…

I ordered the Pork Belly Po’ Boy, which is served on ciabatta bread with spicy aioli. I have never tried pork belly before, so I decided to be adventurous and try something new. The pork belly was hot, juicy and tender, and the bread was fresh and slightly grilled. The spicy aioli took it over the top. This is a tasty sandwich.

My sons ordered the A.M. Burger, which is a burger patty made with Pat LaFrieda beef, topped with a fried egg, bacon and onion jam, and served between two waffles. I had no idea what a “Pat LaFrieda” burger was, so I consulted Google and learned that he (Pat LaFrieda, Jr.) is referred to as the “Magician of Meat” and is featured on the Food Network show “Meat Men”. We have never seen this show, so my boys were more impressed with the fact that the burger was served on waffles.

Steam Haus has a unique menu. I couldn’t find it online so I posted it here:

Steam Haus also has a lot of beer. I pretty much stopped drinking when I got married and had kids, so I’ll let Steam Haus explain what they have (from the Steam Haus Facebook page):

Hey there Guys & Gals! Today is the Steam Haus Gastropub’s GRAND OPENING!! 101 bottles of beer on the wall, 30 awesome draft beers, a grand wine collection & a mouth watering menu full of such crazy delights as our AM Burger & Ale Floats!! So if you’re into craft brew & pub food with a fine dining twist, come celebrate with us!!

Steam Haus Gastropub
2785 Cabot Drive, Suite 110
Corona, CA
www.steamhausgastropub.com

Shamrocks Mesquite Fired Grill & Pub – Corona

August 10, 2012 by Ole 5 Comments

Mesquite-grilled tri-tip doesn’t seem to be typical Irish fare, but it is at Shamrocks Mesquite Fired Grill and Pub in Corona.

When Chuy’s closed its doors and Austin’s took over, I was glad they kept tri-tip on the menu. When Austin’s moved on, Shamrocks took over and completely renovated the restaurant and brought in a new menu… but they kept the tri-tip.

I like this place. The servers are nice and the food is pretty good.

When they are on their game, the tri-tip is great. The pastrami and club sandwiches are also good.

Although I have only been here for lunch, Shamrocks also has a nice bar, which I bet gets crazy on St. Patrick’s Day.

Shamrocks Mesquite Fired Grill & Pub
1275 Magnolia Ave. Ste 105
Corona, CA

Brandon’s Diner on Magnolia – Riverside, CA

August 2, 2012 by Ole Leave a Comment

I have driven past Brandon’s Diner on Magnolia in Riverside many times. While running some errands in the area a few weeks ago, I finally decided to stop in for an omelet.

I like the feel of this place. The first time I walked in, I noticed how the customers and servers were interacting. You can tell that this place has a loyal customer base.

Since my first visit, I have been back a few times and my omelet has always been good. The omelets are made with four eggs, and can be ordered a la carte if you don’t want all of the sides. I like this because I’m not always in the mood for the carbs that come with the toast and potatoes.

I have also tried the location on Indiana, but I prefer the atmosphere of the Magnolia location. The one on Magnolia feels like a friendly neighborhood diner, while the one on Indiana kind of feels like a normal coffee shop. At least, that’s my impression.

Brandon’s Diner has seven locations in the Inland Empire, including the two in Riverside. The other locations are in the following cities: Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Fontana, Moreno Valley, Ontario.

Although I have only been here for breakfast, Brandon’s has an extensive menu. They even serve Mexican food, which is what I’ll try if I ever make it here for lunch.

Brandon’s Diner 3
10271 Magnolia Avenue
Riverside, CA 92503
www.brandonsdiner.com

Sixth Street Deli – Norco

July 31, 2012 by Ole Leave a Comment

I was really in the mood for a sandwich one day, but I wanted to try something new, so I consulted Google and found Sixth Street Deli in Norco.

Sixth Street Deli is tucked away in a small shopping center in the heart of Norco. Although I went for a sandwich, I found out that they also serve burgers, salads and more.

I have been to Sixth Street Deli about four times. On my first visit, I tried the pastrami. Pretty good. On my next two visits, I tried some of the cold sandwiches. The meat is great, but the bread is a bit too chewy for me. Also, the Italian oil is very overpowering. On my last visit I ordered the Manager’s special, which is hot turkey, bacon and cheese on white toast. Again, the meat and cheese were great, but it would have been much better on different bread.

If I hadn’t found Jersey Mike’s shortly after finding this place, I’m sure I would go back and just tweak my order a little bit.

Sixth Street Deli offers friendly service, fresh ingredients, plenty of seating, and more than just sandwiches.

Sixth Street Deli and Grill
1261 Sixth Street – Unit 8
Norco, CA 92860
www.sixthstdeli.com

My Favorite Omelettes – Corky’s Kitchen in Corona, CA

July 29, 2012 by Ole Leave a Comment

Corky’s Kitchen and Bakery recently opened a new location in the Stater Brothers shopping center near Cajalco and the 15 in Corona. This has quickly become my favorite place for breakfast.

Corky’s is a nice, new and clean place. The first time we walked in, it was packed and people were waiting. Once we got our food, we realized why. Corky’s serves great food.

The omelettes are amazing. They are made with five eggs and are full of your chosen ingredients. Corky’s makes a point of letting you know that they “crack every egg fresh for your order”. The hash browns are good too.

My boys love the French Toast:

My wife likes the salad:

Corky’s has five locations, and is open 24 hours a day.

If you’re looking for a friendly place that serves good food, give Corky’s a try.

Corky’s Kitchen & Bakery
3811 Bedford Canyon Road #108
Corona, CA 92883
www.corkyskitchenandbakery.com

Great Sandwiches at Jersey Mike’s in Norco

July 28, 2012 by Ole Leave a Comment

We have a new favorite sandwich place… Jersey Mike’s in Norco.

What is so great about this place?

Before I answer that question, let me give you a visual… you want a sandwich so you go to Subway… you order your sandwich and then watch as the “sandwich artist” takes a hunk of pre-sliced meat out of a bin, throws some on your bread, and then tosses the unused pieces back in the bin… after adding your produce, she takes the avocado or tuna covered knife that she used to cut the last person’s sandwich and attempts to cut your sandwich… she then looks at you funny when you ask her to please clean off the knife…

This scenario has played out in front of me many times. Never again.

The first thing you will probably notice at Jersey Mike’s is that they slice the meat and cheese for your sandwich right in front of you. They literally take the meat and cheese out of the refrigerator, put it on the slicer, and place the slices on your sandwich as you watch. Every time. They also cook the meat for your hot sandwich on the grill, not in the microwave.

The bread is also great. There is white and wheat, and both are a little crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside. Perfect sandwich bread.

On to the produce. Not as many choices as other places, but what they do have is fresh and abundant. They will always ask if you want the sandwich prepared Mike’s way (onions, lettuce, tomatoes, vinegar, oil and spices). If this isn’t what you want, just let them know.

I am still a fan of Togo’s, but Jersey Mike’s wins. Jersey Mike’s also beats all of the local sandwich places I have tried so far.

My personal favorites are the Club Sub (#8) and the Original Italian (#13):

I also like the Grilled Pastrami Reuben (#20) and the Famous Philly (#17).

If you want a great sandwich, go here. On second thought, go somewhere else… the line is already too long at lunch time.

Jersey Mike’s
1411 Hamner Ave. Suite 104
Norco, CA 92860
jerseymikes.com

Urban Thai – Dos Lagos, Corona

May 17, 2012 by Ole Leave a Comment

Urban Thai has been located in the Shops at Dos Lagos for years, but my wife and I didn’t try it for the first time until about a few weeks ago. I imagine that a lot of people miss this place since it is located between two closed businesses in a part of the center that doesn’t seem to get much traffic. I wasn’t even sure it was open when we drove up the first time.

We ordered the beef satay as an appetizer on our first visit, and followed up with the chicken satay on our second visit. Both were tender and tasty.

Urban Thai has very reasonable lunch specials, which are served with soup, rice, salad and an entree. On both visits, I ordered the Fire Beef, which is a slightly spicy mixture of beef, green beans and red peppers. Good stuff.

My wife tried the Chicken Curry with green (mild) curry on our first visit, but decided to go with the Spicy Chicken Ramen on our second visit. She really liked the ramen.

I am not in a position to compare this place to other Thai food restaurants because this is only the second one I have ever visited. What I can say is that I enjoy the food and plan to go back. I hope that more people find this place and give it a try.

There is also an Urban Thai in Aliso Viejo.

Urban Thai
2795 Cabot Dr. #170
Corona, CA 92883
951-277-1298
www.theurbanthai.com